Weiner Effort Provides $500,000 To Fight Beach Erosion

Every summer, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers flock to Rockaway's beaches. What beachgoers may not know is that for years, those beaches have been literally washing away, with some of the most pronounced erosion occurring during the harsh winter months.

To combat the dangerous effects of erosion, Rep. Anthony Weiner secured $500,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers to continue to study ways to provide long-term storm damage protection to the Rockaways, including the use of groins and jetties, and further renourishment measures.

The House of Representatives pased the bill providing the funds to fight beach erosion in the Rockaways. The funding was included in the House Energy and Water appropriations bill, and is expected to pass the Senate later in the Congressional session.

Fighting erosion at Rockaway's beaches has been an ongoing project since 1965, with projects that have included seawalls and dunes to break storm waves and surges, and laying down more than 10 million cubic yards of extra sand on the beach to absorb waves and reduce their momentum.

"We've come a long way in protecting our pristine beaches, but it's an ongoing struggle," said Weiner. "After the summer beach season, our beaches will sustain the heavy surf and winter storms we get every year. We've got to stay one step ahead of Mother Nature."